[FrillyLily]

I have one of these front loaders, I have had it about 10-12 years. It is a whirlpool duet, I can't find the paperwork, the door has locked me out (of course the model # is on the inside, what idiot thought that up?) I can't get the door to open. I have tried everything, so I guess I will now take the front panel off and manually try to find the switch to pull it loose. Is there any way I can disengage this nonsense altogether, if I do will the washer work since it will 'sense' that the door is not locked? Also the problem I am having is that we decided to install a new water heater and there is no hot water right now. I selected a cold water cycle but got an error code of F20. And it just refuses to work. Does it need access to hot water to operate even though I selected a cold water cycle. I just hate this machine so much. every time I use it for 10 years I hate it. I have to have a large front load because I have a disabled son who I wash alot of heavy bedding/blankets for. Otherwise I would be going to the flea market and looking me up one of those old kind that actually worked. I'm just so sick of technology right now. My husband is hooking up a water heater that links to wi-fi and all this nonsense. I'm guessing we will have to constantly put up with crap from that too. Can anyone help me with my washer issue?

1. can I by pass the lock altogether so I never have to deal w this again, and 2. does my washer need access to hot water to run a cold cycle?

 

[Nik333]

Washer's Door Won't Unlock
You can manually unlock the washer by removing the top (remove screws on the back of the top panel and slide the top panel back to lift off. then with the washer unplugged reach down and pull a small ring on the top of the door lock to manually open the door lock.
Whirlpool Duet Front-Load Washer Guide.


https://applianceassistant.com › Washer-Repair › Duet-Washer-Repair-Guide

 

[Nik333]

Not an appliance repairman. Aren't the safety factors there to prevent the opening of the door when full of water & causing flooding and to keep kids out?


Is your son able to open the door?

 

[FrillyLily]

My son does not have access to the washer, it is in a different part of the house.

 

[FrillyLily]

Washer's Door Won't Unlock
You can manually unlock the washer by removing the top (remove screws on the back of the top panel and slide the top panel back to lift off. then with the washer unplugged reach down and pull a small ring on the top of the door lock to manually open the door lock.
Whirlpool Duet Front-Load Washer Guide.


https://applianceassistant.com › Washer-Repair › Duet-Washer-Repair-Guide

Did not realize it unlocks from the top, I think it is on the front bottom panel if I remember right from when we did it before. However, I am not asking about how to unlock it, I am tired of messing with it and I am looking for a way to by pass the lock feature altogether, can that be done?

 

[Bud9051]

Opening the door is half the problem. Determining why is the other half. The plus is you will have the model number. Let us know.

Bud

I was typing while you posted. Can you post the model and details?

 

[Nik333]

There are lots of answers to that on the Internet but it doesn't sound safe, imo. Kids & disabled adults do all kinds of unexpected things, as do visiting kids.


I'm sorry you're frustrated, I don't like fancy bells & whistles, either.



Today's an odd day being the New Year after New Year's. Be patient & maybe someone will answer, but, most aren't fond of bypassing safety.


(Didn't see Bud's comment)

 

[FrillyLily]

all the ones I seen on my search were to by-pass top loading switches but not an actual door lock for a front loader. Maybe I just didn't see any.

 

[CaptTom]

OMG this just happened to us today! Whirlpool Duet. Daughter ran a load and forgot to turn on the water first.

After throwing an error, it just sat there with the pump running, trying to empty the (already empty) tub. No lights on the display except "door locked."

Tried waiting 10 minutes, tried unplugging for 10 minutes, tried pressing and holding various buttons. No luck. Left it unplugged for 20 minutes. No luck. Left it unplugged for an hour. Same.

Some YouTuber suggested letting it run in that state for 25 minutes. OK, sure, I'll try that. Plugged it in and started a timer. Five minutes later, the pump shut off and the door unlocked. The load is running fine now.

What was the ultimate solution? Who knows. Maybe that 25 minutes is cumulative. Can't imagine it's good for the pump to run dry for that long, but it seems OK now.

As for the error codes, the manual just says this:

F# E# code other than as described above appears in display:
System error code.
Touch POWER once to clear the code. Then touch POWER
again to restart washer. If code appears again, call for service.

Not very helpful. I suspect you had the same problem we did; no water to the washer. Could the cold have been off, too?

 

[FrillyLily]

no the cold was on, it actually put water in, wet all the clothes and then later in the cycle is when it happened. I too think running the pump dry would ruin it? We just replaced the pump a year ago. In fact come to think of it, I think that is what we did on our christmas break last year Seems to have some kind of grinchy curse lol

 

[Dave Sal]

While I don't have any solution to OP's situation, I have also come to hate front load washers. I used to have a Kenmore Elite front loader. Never got locked out, but the clothes never came out smelling fresh and clean, ever. Nothing was wrong with it but I think there wasn't enough water used per cycle to clean the clothes thoroughly. I ended up getting rid of it, in perfect condition, and got a Speed Queen top loader. Clothes are clean and fresh once again. I bought it in 2017, and it's still under warranty for another 4 years!

 

[FrillyLily]

Dave, does it have an agitator? My house is really small so I got the front loaders to save space, I use the top as a work area. If I had a top loader I'd have to keep that space freed up more. I may consider it next time though. I have actually carried water to my washer and poured it in with the clothes when starting it up. Who knows if it helps, but mine doesn't get the clothes clean either half the time. As was mentioned it dumps all the soap in one place, so I started putting that in w the clothes too, that way I can spread it around more evenly.

 

[Nealtw]

We had some front loading machine for about 10 years and when the drum bearings went and my son is in the throw away group he replaced it with a top loader, think it will last longer. It will likely last for ever because it doesn't wash anything.

They just took a front loader and built it with the same parts. it takes about 2" of water and the drum goes back and forth and the clothes just sit in one place. It is a joke.

People spent close to 100 years trying to design a perfect agitator and these clowns just left that part out.

 

[CaptTom]

"Normal" setting on our front-loader doesn't even get the clothes wet. We have to use the maximum settings.

Just to add insult to injury, it runs the pump on start-up to prevent you from adding water ahead of the clothes. And therefore, you can't dissolve the bleach or detergent in the wash water before adding the clothes.

Tip: I've heard you can wet the clothes before adding them. This not only ensures they get wet, but tricks the washer into thinking it's a heavier load, and adding more water on its own.

It's outrageous that we're being prevented from making our own decisions about every little detail of life. On the other hand, look at some of the decisions people make every day. It's hard to blame the designers of these things if they're only trying to protect themselves from legal liability. Maybe blame the lawyers. Or the stupidity of the masses. And remember, we allow these people to vote! Wish I had the answer.

 

[carmusic]

i had to tweak mine (old lg model) by adjusting the electronic level gage inside the washer (just a screw to turn!) , ive put it at the max i could (water just below door opening on hand wash setting (about 0.5-1 inch higher than original setting) and it does wash better now

 

[Dave Sal]

Dave, does it have an agitator? My house is really small so I got the front loaders to save space, I use the top as a work area. If I had a top loader I'd have to keep that space freed up more. I may consider it next time though. I have actually carried water to my washer and poured it in with the clothes when starting it up. Who knows if it helps, but mine doesn't get the clothes clean either half the time. As was mentioned it dumps all the soap in one place, so I started putting that in w the clothes too, that way I can spread it around more evenly.

Yes, it has an agitator. Great machine.



https://speedqueen.com/products/home-products/top-load-washers/

 

[lenaitch]

As mentioned, I have heard front loader determine the amount of water to dispense is based on the weight of the load, and that wetting a towel or pair of jeans can fool it into more water.

 

[carmusic]

As mentioned, I have heard front loader determine the amount of water to dispense is based on the weight of the load, and that wetting a towel or pair of jeans can fool it into more water.

No all of them just use a level transmitter, there is no weight sensor (anyway dry cloth weight almost nothing) when there is more clothes, there is more clothes water absorption and washer check water level when drum stops rotating

 

[zhawkeye]

Thanks all...I think we'll just hang on to our 20+ year old Kenmore top loader that's still kicking...

 

[FrillyLily]

https://www.consumerreports.org/washing-machines/yes-your-washing-machine-is-using-enough-water/ This article does say that some models determine the amount of water based on the weight of the load, so yes they do seem to weigh your clothes before it starts. I suspect that they will all do that before long. Some of the loads used as little as 7 gallons to wash the laundry, I"m not sure what that means, comparing it to the 'old' types that it says used as much as 40 gallons to do a load, I am assuming it means the entire cycle-wash AND rinse. I don't see how you can wash and rinse a load of laundry in 7 gallons, that is ludicrous.